Baoding

Baoding or Paoting (both: bou-dĭng) [key], city (1994 est. pop. 519,200), central Hebei prov., China. It is a port on the Fu River and an agricultural distribution center, with food-processing and variety of other light industries. Baoding was the capital of Hebei prov. until 1958. A medical college and an agricultural institute are in the city. Baoding was formerly called Qingyuan.